Fax Console reliable after boot

[Naro]

XP Fax Console has become erratic after working fine for many months. This rarely happens if it is launched immediately after startup or reboot. At other times whether evoked from the shortcut (as in sending a new fax) or evoked by printer/scanner software, the send option is either greyed out.. or if I click on a good send option the program hangs.
At first I thought that this was caused by recently installed ZoneAlarm, and/or MS Antispyware Beta 1. However, uninstalling them did not cure the problem. I have removed and reinstalled Fax Console, also.

Alas, this is enough of an intermittent problem that I am having difficulty troubleshooting. Suggestions??

 

[aquias]

My first thought, and I could be way off here, is that something is busying up the port. I haven't used the fax console so I'm not certain of its nuances.

I would run through a spyware/virus check on this system. Pull down spybot and re-install the MS beta. Run both and clean up any entries that are found.

Then run a a virus scan on the system (I would suggest using Trend Micros online scanner) and see if you turn up anything.

 

[Naro]

Thanks. That was my thought, too. But I've scanned and scanned. AdAware, Spybot, Spyware Blaster, MS beta, etc. Nothing finds spyware or virus issues. By the way, I'm using Mozilla Firefox 1.0 as a browser. I've tried the most recent Firefox, and no change. .. I sort of had myself convinced that this problem happened only if I'd just been online. But I think I'm seeing ghosts.

 

[aquias]

Next step is to run Hijack This! and see if it picks up anything that could be utilizing the ports.

 

[Rhombus65]

Is your OS fully updated?

Maybe there is an update needed??

Jim: A+, MCP W2k, Master Electrician

"The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing..."
-Albert Einstein

 

[Rhombus65]

One more thought!

Maybe your Printer/scanner has a new driver available. Maybe you updated XP and now you need a new driver from your printer/scanner manufacturer.

Jim: A+, MCP W2k, Master Electrician

"The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing..."
-Albert Einstein

 

[Naro]

Thanks Rhombus65 and aquias: The OS and all drivers are up to date. As the problem is intermittent, my Hijack This logfile isn't much help right now. Will try it when Fax Console next fails. However, looking at it right now I can't see that any ports are being held open.

 

[bcastner]

Did you make a firewall exception for FAX?

 

[aquias]

With luck someone else will jump in, it sounds like I was off on my first thought and I don't have time to do some further digging. I'll see what else I can turn up later.

 

[Naro]

Thanks bcastner. Yep, I did make a firewall exception for FAX. Even though I'm only faxing out thru a dial-up line and modem, I did make the exception for the Fax Console application.

 

[Naro]

CAUGHT AT THE MOMENT OF FAILURE.
Just completed an Acronis clone operation, then attempted to access Fax Console and it would not refresh. Can anyone see a clue in this Hijack This file?

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 6:53:45 AM, on 2/23/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Ahead\InCD\InCDsrv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\Schedule2\schedul2.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Dantz\Retrospect\retrorun.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Center\SymWSC.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\fxssvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\zHotkey.exe
C:\Program Files\Ahead\InCD\InCD.exe
C:\Program Files\eMachines Bay Reader\shwiconem.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\MouseWare\system\em_exec.exe
C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\viperusb.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb09.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\hphmon05.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Maxtor\OneTouch\Utils\OneTouch.exe
C:\WINDOWS\MXOALDR.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\soft602\pdfSaver.exe
C:\Program Files\Acronis\TrueImage\TrueImageMonitor.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\Schedule2\schedhlp.exe
C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\pptd40nt.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasServ.exe
C:\Program Files\PDF\pdfSaver\pdfSaver3.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasDtServ.exe
Y:\shoptalk\SHOPTALK.EXE
C:\Program Files\WallpaperToy\Wallpapertoy.Exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\FXSCLNT.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Down&Up\SUPPORT\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page =

http://www.emachines.com/

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL =

http://www.emachines.com

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = "C:\Program

Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe"
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program

Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton

AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program

Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NAV CfgWiz] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CfgWiz.exe

/GUID NAV /CMDLINE "REBOOT"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nForce Tray Options] sstray.exe /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CHotkey] zHotkey.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [InCD] C:\Program Files\Ahead\InCD\InCD.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunKistEM] C:\Program Files\eMachines Bay Reader\shwiconem.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Logitech Utility] Logi_MwX.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IndexSearch] C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\IndexSearch.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StrobePro] C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\viperusb.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPDJ Taskbar Utility]

C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb09.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPHUPD05] C:\Program

Files\HP\{D946675D-1D6C-4dc8-9E0D-B4B8EAA30EAA}\hphupd05.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPHmon05] C:\WINDOWS\System32\hphmon05.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MaxtorOneTouch] C:\PROGRA~1\Maxtor\OneTouch\Utils\OneTouch.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MXO Auto Loader] C:\WINDOWS\MXOALDR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [602PC SUITE PDF Saver] "C:\Program Files\Common

Files\soft602\pdfSaver.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Acronis True Image Monitor] "C:\Program

Files\Acronis\TrueImage\TrueImageMonitor.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Acronis Scheduler2 Service] "C:\Program Files\Common

Files\Acronis\Schedule2\schedhlp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Symantec NetDriver Monitor] C:\PROGRA~1\SYMNET~1\SNDMon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PaperPort PTD] C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\pptd40nt.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [gcasServ] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasServ.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [pdfSaver3] "c:\Program Files\PDF\pdfSaver\pdfSaver3.exe"
O4 - Startup: Shop Talk.lnk = shoptalk\SHOPTALK.EXE
O4 - Startup: Wallpaper Changer.lnk = C:\Program Files\WallpaperToy\Wallpapertoy.Exe
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program

Files\Java\j2re1.4.2\bin\npjpi142.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} -

C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2\bin\npjpi142.dll
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} -

C:\WINDOWS\System32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program

Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} -

C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.emachines.com
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation

Tool) -

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=36467&clcid=0x409

O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{8DFDD586-305A-47B8-91B6-07AC7469CD0E}: NameServer =

216.83.236.227
O23 - Service: Acronis Scheduler2 Service (AcrSch2Svc) - Acronis - C:\Program Files\Common

Files\Acronis\Schedule2\schedul2.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program

Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Password Validation (ccPwdSvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program

Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccPwdSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program

Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
O23 - Service: InCD Helper (InCDsrv) - Ahead Software AG - C:\Program

Files\Ahead\InCD\InCDsrv.exe
O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus Auto Protect Service (navapsvc) - Symantec Corporation -

C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Retrospect Launcher (RetroLauncher) - Dantz Development Corporation -

C:\Program Files\Dantz\Retrospect\retrorun.exe
O23 - Service: Retrospect Helper - Dantz Development Corporation - C:\Program

Files\Dantz\Retrospect\rthlpsvc.exe
O23 - Service: SAVScan - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton

AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe
O23 - Service: ScriptBlocking Service (SBService) - Symantec Corporation -

C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\SYMANT~1\SCRIPT~1\SBServ.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Network Drivers Service (SNDSrvc) - Symantec Corporation -

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: SymWMI Service (SymWSC) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common

Files\Symantec Shared\Security Center\SymWSC.exe

 

[Naro]

LOOK at this.. I rebooted, Fax Console was working, so I did another Hijack This log.

In the failed log, Windows\system32\Fxssvc.exe was not listed as a running process. In the working mode, the next hijack this log showed the fxssvc as a running process. Nothing else seemed different in the two logs.

I set the service to "restart the service" on first failure. It had been set to "take no action"

I don't know why it didn't load.. or closed.. in the first place and I'm finding no knowledge base on this. And it is a soft failure... so I don't know if anything was fixed.

Am I on a wild goose chase?

 

[bcastner]

Your "failed" log earlier shows the process running:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\fxssvc.exe

 

[Naro]

oops. Thanks bcastner. I WAS off on a wild goose chase, I guess.

 

[bcastner]

I would be more curious about the running state of the FAX printer.

 

[Naro]

If you mean a physical device, there is none. I use MS Fax Console only to transmit, never to receive or print.

If you're making reference to the designation of Fax in Control Panel\Printers and Faxes, I don't know about running state: the problem can occur when I print a wordprocessing document to "fax". The "printer" doesn't show as paused or halted, but the failure really shows when the Fax Console wizard screen opens.. "Next" being greyed out. But the problem can occur just upon launching Fax Console directly before any program evokes it, as in trying to send a new fax from the File\Send a Fax option. The icon at the bottom of the page stays in Refresh mode.. never changes to Ready.

Your thoughts are very much appreciated, and I appologize if I'm not articulating the problem clearly.